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Sneeze Guards

Sneeze Guards and Protective Barrier Shields to Prevent Spread of COVID-19

covid-19-protection-sneeze-guards-shield-barrierBy now, you’re probably very familiar with what sneeze guards are and how they can effectively protect consumers, retail workers, and essential workers from being exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Sneeze guards have always been used in the food and retail industry in a wide range of capacities to protect both employees and consumers. But 2020 has certainly seen a massive surge in the supply and demand of these protective barrier shields across numerous industries.

Let’s take a closer look at what sneeze guards are and how they can prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What Are Sneeze Guards and Protective Barrier Shields?

Sneeze guards, also known as protective barrier shields, are clear partitions usually made out of plexiglass that are designed to block harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses from coming into contact with essential workers and products. Traditionally, sneeze guards were most commonly used in the food service industry such as sandwich shops, buffets, bakeries, cafeterias, meat and fish counters at grocery stores, and restaurants that contain hot tables to prevent germs from getting into the food.

But the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the use of sneeze guards and protective barriers spread to a variety of other industries for different purposes—namely the protection of employees and consumers. Sneeze guards have proven to be effective physical distancing tools that prevent employees and customers from getting too close to one another during service transactions.

Plastic Sheet and Safety Solutions for COVID-19

In the past year, businesses within all sectors have been forced to take a step back and seriously re-evaluate their customer and employee safety standards. Government health and safety guidelines have provided useful recommendations such as encouraging customers and employees to physically distance from one another, wear masks in public, and wash their hands frequently.

Protective barrier shields, which are typically made of plexiglass (acrylic), have also been erected in virtually every commercial setting where it makes sense. The goal is to protect everyone who works and shops in these establishments while keeping as many businesses open as possible.

Sneeze guard barrier suppliers have been hard at work trying to meet the increasing demand for durable, multipurpose, adaptable, and flexible partitions that have become instrumental in preventing the spread of COVID-19. These barriers are extremely easy to install, maintain, and clean. They can be configured to fit within practically any store setup and display to protect vulnerable products and essential workers.

Virtually indestructible, plexiglass can handle all kinds of usage in a variety of environments and it can also withstand longstanding contact with all kinds of chemicals and industrial cleaning solutions that are used to kill germs on its surface.

Why Choose Our Products (Sneeze Guards/Protective Barrier Shields)?

At Canada Plastics & Belting Inc., we pride ourselves on designing and manufacturing high-quality plexiglass (acrylic) sneeze guards and protective barrier shields for a wide range of companies across the country. Our products can be found in retail stores, salons, grocery stores, shopping mall food courts, and restaurants among other public spaces. As one of the leading sneeze guard protective barrier suppliers in Canada, we’re committed to providing high-quality protective barriers at competitive prices. Contact us today to learn more.

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Plexiglass Sheet

The Uses and Benefits of Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sheets

plexiglass-acrylic-sheets-uses-benefits-canada-plasticsAcrylic, which is better known as plexiglass, is one of the most widely used synthetic materials in the world. Even if you haven’t heard of this type of plastic before, chances are that you’ve at least come into contact with or used it at some point in your life. Acrylic is extremely versatile and strong, making it perfectly suitable for a wide range of applications across numerous industries. From construction to retail, there’s no shortage of uses for plexiglass acrylic sheets.

What Is a Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sheet?

The word “plexiglass” was originally a brand name that eventually became the commonly used term for acrylic sheets in the construction and building supply industry. Acrylic is essentially polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which is a highly durable and versatile synthetic polymer material.

Whatever you choose to call it, plexiglass or acrylic, is also a thermoplastic material. When exposed to extreme heat, it can be moulded into a wide variety of shapes and configurations to suit a large variety of applications. Plexiglass is commonly transparent to create visual clarity, but it can also be made in a wide range of tints depending on your specific preferences.

Uses of Plexiglass Sheets in Various Industries

Plexiglass (acrylic) sheets are extremely durable, versatile, and malleable. These are important qualities that make this type of synthetic plastic material ideal for a number of applications, including:

  • Signage
  • Sneeze guards
  • Store displays
  • Skylights
  • Protective countertop systems to separate customers from sales associates/cashiers/retail workers
  • Aquariums
  • Submarine viewing spheres
  • Exterior lights in automobiles
  • Spectator guard and protection in ice hockey rinks
  • Aircraft windows
  • Riot control protection for police and emergency responder vehicles
  • Lighthouse lenses
  • Sunlight redirection for buildings
  • Various medical technologies and implants such as intraocular lenses, eyeglass lenses, bone cement used for orthopedic surgery, cosmetic surgery
  • Dentistry (artificial teeth)
  • Artistry (modern furniture design)

This list doesn’t cover the full scope of applications that plexiglass (acrylic) sheets are used for, but it gives a good indication of just how easily adaptable this material is. More recently, plexiglass sheets have been increasingly used for PPE and sneeze guards in public spaces to protect consumers and essential workers while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Benefits of Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sheets

There are a lot of worthwhile benefits to using acrylic sheets for various applications. Acrylic plastic is lightweight, yet extremely durable and malleable at the same time. It’s also easy to fabricate and manipulate to take on whatever shape or configuration you need for any application.

Acrylic has many of the same qualities as glass in that it’s transparent and easy to clean and maintain. Unlike glass, however, acrylic is thermoplastic, completely weather resistant, and shatterproof.

Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sheet Suppliers in the GTA

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is headquartered in Toronto. We specialize in retail and wholesale distribution of plastic sheets, PTTE belts, fabrics, and tapes. As a leading stockist and supplier of plexiglass (acrylic) sheets in the GTA, we have strong partnerships with several world-class manufacturers in the field of PTFE-coated glass fabrics, tapes, belts, screen printing supplies, and more. If you need plexiglass materials or products, contact us today to learn about our diverse line of materials.